Movie review: 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I' is the perfect start to the final chapter

Thursday

Nov 18, 2010 at 12:01 AMNov 18, 2010 at 5:16 PM

This is the beginning of the end of the "Harry Potter" series. No more films, no more books, the end. Thinking about that, I couldn't help but feel a little melancholy. Because of this, I really needed for this first part of a two-part finale to be exceptional. Why? Well, because I have given a lot of time and energy to this series. From the books, to the films, and even the blogs, no book series has captured my imagination more since "The Lord of the Rings." With that much invested, I wanted the series to go out with a bang, and this part of the finale needed to set all that in motion. To my surprise and enjoyment, it does just that and more.

Gary Darling

And so the show must end.

This is the beginning of the end of the "Harry Potter" series. No more films, no more books, the end. Thinking about that, I couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

Because of this, I really needed for this first part of a two-part finale to be exceptional.

Why? Well, because I have given a lot of time and energy to this series. From the books, to the films, and even the blogs, no book series has captured my imagination more since "The Lord of the Rings." With that much invested, I wanted the series to go out with a bang, and this part of the finale needed to set all that in motion.

To my surprise and enjoyment, it does just that and more.

The film centers around the journey to find the horcruxes of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Finding the horcruxes and destroying them is paramount to the downfall of the Dark Lord. This is the mission that Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) had given to Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) before the end of the last film.

Joining him on this dreaded mission is his friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson).

This will not be an easy mission because the Death Eaters have one goal: destroy Harry Potter and end any hope for the destruction of Lord Voldemort. This is made even more dire when the Death Eaters bring about the fall of the Ministry of Magic and put a puppet minister in place.

This film is the start of that journey. The band of friends will be put through dangers they have never experienced and their friendships will be put to the test. How will these three teenagers be able to succeed where so many others have failed?

As the credits rolled after the film ended, I was disappointed. Disappointed that I had to wait until July to see the conclusion to this great first act.

I was blown away by this installment of the finale for many reasons.

First is the performance of the three central stars: Radcliffe, Grint and Watson. Their interpretation of these characters in this film is, bar none, the best of the saga. Wonderful to watch and behold, they give the performances of a lifetime.

Secondly is the tone that the filmmakers set in this film. The stark colors and sense of dread that oozes off the screen is paramount in setting the mood of the Harry Potter world at this particular time. Every moment and every word added to that sense of terror.

Finally, the the story itself was fantastic. Some would say that pacing was slow or some scenes didn't add anything to the overall Potter mythos, but I disagree. To skip over some of the more character-driven scenes would have been the biggest mistake the filmmakers would have made. These scenes give the characters a humanity that we have never really seen in the "Harry Potter" world on screen and enhances the dire circumstances that our central characters are facing.

Overall, I loved this film. I can't wait for the finale, but this film was a great appetizer. Filled with scene after scene of wondrous storytelling, you will not be disappointed.

4.5 out of 5 stars

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